Derby Street has seen many changes over recent years. It has developed from a nursery school to a children's centre and now provides a wide range of services for children from 0 to 4 years of age. It serves the families of Heywood and, though the immediate area is socially disadvantaged, draws children from a wide range of backgrounds. Children's attainment when they start nursery is below average, with some having very weak skills. The proportion with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is high. Almost all the children are from white British backgrounds. A few are from minority ethnic heritages but none is at the early stages of learning English. The school has changed its name since the time of the last inspection.